A cool morning breeze stirred the leaves outside the cave as Shree stretched, feeling the stiffness in his body ease. The ground wasn't exactly the softest place to sleep, but his new physique made resting anywhere far more comfortable than before. He let out a deep breath, rubbing his temples.
"Finally awake, sleepyhead?" Chat's familiar voice rang in his mind, laced with amusement.
Shree cracked a smirk. "Not my fault. This world doesn't come with alarm clocks."
"If you slept any longer, I was going to start narrating your life like a documentary—'And here, we observe the rare and lazy Shree in his natural habitat…'"
Shree chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I'm up."
He stood at the cave's entrance, looking out at the vast forest stretching endlessly before him. The towering trees, their massive trunks wrapped in thick vines, looked ancient, as if they had existed since the dawn of time. A mix of floral and earthy scents filled the air, the damp soil beneath his feet rich with the essence of life. It was wild. Untamed. And today, he was going to explore it further.
"Before anything else, a little warm-up," he muttered, rolling his shoulders.
Shree moved into a familiar martial stance, his movements fluid and precise. He went through his Plum Blossom Style, each strike sharp, every step carrying a natural rhythm. Even though this world lacked the spiritual energy of the Plum Blossom Paradise, he could feel his body adapting. Every punch, every kick—it all felt more refined, more in sync with himself.
"Not bad," Chat commented. "You're getting sharper."
"Of course. I'm a genius," Shree replied with a smirk.
"Right, right. A genius who still hasn't found a single sign of civilization."
Shree sighed, stretching his arms. "That's what today is for. Time to find a river—because where there's water, there's life. And hopefully, people."
With renewed determination, he set off into the forest.
The deeper he went, the more he realized just how different this place was from anything he had ever seen. It wasn't just the trees that were massive—the entire ecosystem seemed… enhanced.
The insects weren't tiny specks buzzing around—they were the size of his palm, their wings producing a low, eerie hum as they flitted through the air. Some resembled dragonflies but had shimmering, crystalline wings that reflected the sunlight in dazzling patterns. Others looked like beetles with shells harder than stone, lazily crawling over tree trunks.
Then there were the birds.
High above, he spotted a hawk circling in the sky, its wingspan easily over three meters. It wasn't just big—it radiated a presence, as if it were a king of the skies, surveying its domain. Its talons gleamed like metal, and its keen golden eyes locked onto something in the distance before it dove down like a lightning bolt, disappearing into the foliage.
"Okay, so everything here is either bigger, stronger, or both," Shree muttered.
"You're just lucky you haven't run into something that wants to eat you yet," Chat added cheerfully.
Shree rolled his eyes and kept moving, hoping to hear the sound of running water. Instead, after a long search, he stumbled upon something else—a lake.
The water was crystal-clear, reflecting the sky like a flawless mirror. Strange, bioluminescent plants grew around its edge, pulsing faintly with soft blue and violet hues. He stepped closer, crouching near the shore.
"Not bad," he murmured, scooping up some water in his hands. It was refreshingly cool, with a faint mineral taste.
Then he felt it. A presence.
Shree's gaze snapped up, and his breath hitched.
On the other side of the lake, a creature emerged from the thick undergrowth.
It looked like a deer—but that was where the similarities ended.
The beast was massive, its body nearly as large as an elephant. Its antlers weren't simple branches—they looked like twisted, dark wood, woven with veins of faintly glowing silver. Each step it took was impossibly graceful, despite its size.
Its eyes.
Deep, golden, intelligent.
Not the vacant stare of a mere animal.
It turned its head slightly, locking eyes with Shree across the lake. A moment of silence stretched between them.
Then, the deer-like beast snorted, releasing a mist-like breath that shimmered in the air before slowly fading. It turned and walked away, disappearing back into the forest.
Shree remained frozen in place.
"…Did that just happen?" he muttered.
"Yup," Chat confirmed.
"And we're just gonna ignore the fact that it looked at me like I was an intruder in its home?"
"Oh, don't worry," Chat said. "It probably just decided you weren't worth its time. Yet."
Shree shuddered. "Great. That's reassuring."
Shree wasn't necessarily afraid—he knew he was strong. But these creatures weren't normal, and he wasn't about to test his strength against them for no reason.
"I've read too many novels where someone kills a random beast, and suddenly, its entire clan comes for revenge," Shree muttered.
"Yeah, and you're in a completely new world with no idea how the ecosystem works. Maybe that's not just a deer. Maybe that's an ancestral spirit beast or something," Chat teased.
Shree shuddered. "Don't say that. I'd rather not start my journey by angering some ancient lineage of beasts."
With that, he decided to avoid unnecessary fights. He didn't need food right now, and picking fights just to test his abilities seemed foolish. If trouble came to him, he would deal with it—but he wasn't going to seek it.
He looked around again, taking in the sheer scale of the wilderness around him. This wasn't Earth. This wasn't even like the fantasy worlds he had read about. It was something entirely different—something untouched, primal.
And yet…
There were no signs of people.
No footprints. No abandoned campsites. No cut trees, no man-made paths.
Nothing.
A hollow feeling settled in his chest.
"Chat," he said quietly. "What if there are no humans here?"
A pause.
Then, in a mock-serious tone, Chat said, "Well… there's always the possibility that this world is dominated by highly intelligent lizard people."
Shree groaned. "Shut up."
But the unease remained.
If humans weren't here, then what was?
As the sun began to set, Shree retraced his steps, following the subtle markings he had left along the way. He reached the cave just as the sky darkened into shades of deep purple and blue.
Sitting at the entrance, he leaned back, staring up at the vast, endless stars.
They were breathtaking.
The night sky in this world was even more brilliant than in Plum Blossom Paradise. Clusters of stars burned like celestial fire, stretching across the heavens in patterns he didn't recognize.
It was beautiful.
It also made him feel small.
"You alright?" Chat asked.
Shree sighed. "Yeah… just thinking. This world is huge. I feel like an ant in it."
"You were always small," Chat teased.
Shree smirked. "Thanks, Chat. Very helpful."
They sat in silence for a moment, simply enjoying the quiet.
Then Shree took a deep breath.
"So, what's the plan?"
Chat hummed. "Keep searching. If humans are here, we'll find them eventually."
"And if they aren't?"
"Then," Chat said, "you'll just have to be the first."
Shree chuckled. "Sounds like a lot of responsibility."
"But you're up for it."
He exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his body. Whatever came next—whether it was humans, monsters, or something beyond his understanding—he would face it.
Because that was the path he had chosen or that was the path he has to walk .
And somewhere out there, his journey was waiting.
< THE End >